After Nirvana, Dave Grohl could easily have spent the rest of his career hiding behind a drum kit somewhere, but instead he risked undeserved scrutiny by jumping to the mic in front of his own creation. Rock fans should give thanks, because Wasting Light proves the frontman hasn't lost his fire and, seven records into the Foo Fighters' successful career, is still peaking. The light/heavy influence via Led Zeppelin is there, with an emphasis on heavy that's due in part to his hanging with John Paul Jones in Them Crooked Vultures. Hell, lead single "Rope" has a main riff that's wicked close to "The Wanton Song" from Physical Graffiti. "White Limo" is one of the most bombastic tracks the band have ever done, echoing the beefiest Queens of the Stone Age material, and the built-for-radio-glory "These Days" is the best wishing-the-worst-on-an-ex song in recent memory. As with much of the F-squared catalogue, the payoff is in the big choruses, massive melodies, and instant accessibility in the hooks — witness the collaboration with Hüsker Dü's Bob Mould, "Dear Rosemary." Bringing in Nevermind producer Butch Vig risked dangerous nostalgia, but his analog recording gives a fresh, warm feel to the proceedings. Guitarist Pat Smear makes a welcome return to the fold of Foo — yet another weapon to fill out the sound. And hooking up with bassist Krist Novoselic for "I Should Have Known" — an emotionally charged piece that almost breaks the album's no-ballad rule before exploding in the final minute — shouldn't be as big a focus as it's become; Grohl's welcome of his old rhythm partner is a nice touch, and further proof that he's comfortable with his past.

Yelle | Safari Disco Club In the four years since French electro queen Yelle released her debut, Pop Up, a gaggle of comparable female dance-pop characters — from Gaga to La Roux to Robyn — have made their way into the spotlight.

The Sounds | Something To Die For The recent news that British electronic act Faithless have called it a day no doubt left dejected ravers reaching for extra MDMA to stave off the tears.

Pharoahe Monch | W.A.R. If rap fans were willing to worship shit from this century, then W.A.R. would already be considered one of the greatest discs of all time.

Elbow | Build A Rocket Boys! With the Mercury Music Prize for 2008's The Seldom Seen Kid , Elbow took their rightful place among post-Britpop stars.

Panda Bear | Tomboy Tomboy , Noah Lennox a/k/a Panda Bear's third studio album, kicks off with "You Can Count on Me," a slab of intoxicating psychedelia that's quintessentially Panda Bear, from the gorgeous choir-boy vocal harmonies (enunciated to crisp perfection) to the plentiful reverb to the uplifting, major-key message of family commitment.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit | Here We Rest Jason Isbell's stint as the Drive-By Truckers' third axman/singer-songwriter was brief but revelatory: dude was a veritable outta-nowhere sensation who sounded as if he'd been road-tripping in bands of that caliber for decades.

WHAT'S F'N NEXT? CAVEMAN | February 20, 2013 Most people are probably sick to death of Brooklyn being a hipster's paradise where dinks with moustaches tatted on their fingers drive fixed-gear bikes to Williamsburg bars to pay $6.50 for a can of PBR.